THE 28 TDs who lost their seats can take comfort in the generous financial packages to which they have become entitled.

Assuming they opt for the 1992 Oireachtas Pension Scheme, some TDs will receive lump sums under a termination allowance, a severance allowance and as part of their pensions which are paid from the age of 50.

Labour's Ms Breathnach will receive over £25,000 as a lump sum and a Dail and Ministerial pension of over £25,400. Mr Michael McDowell, of the PDs, will receive over £30,000, as well as a TD's pension of £6,073 per year.

Junior Ministers Ms Joan Burton and Ms Eithne Fitzgerald are set for payments of over £25,000, with an annual TD's pension of £4,338. Ms Avril Doyle, of Fine Gael, will get payments of £55,800 and a combined Dail and Ministerial pension of just under £24,000. Ms Mairin Quill, of the PDs, will be entitled to payments of over £47,700 and a pension of over £8,600.

Under the 1992 scheme, Labour's Mr Toddy O'Sullivan is entitled to payments of over £69,000 and a combined pension of over £27,000 per year. Fine Gael's Mr Paddy Harte and Fianna Fail's Mr P.J. Morley are entitled to payments of over £75,000 and a pension of £17,353 per year.

If any of the TDs opt, like Labour's Mr Liam Kavanagh, for the old pension scheme, they are not entitled to termination or severance payments. Payments and pensions are not paid to ex-TDs who are elected to the Seanad, those who become MEPs or those appointed to full-time positions with the government. All payments are taxable.

Spare a thought for Democratic Left ex-TDs Mr Eric Byrne and Ms Kathleen Lynch, who fell short of the three-year service required to qualify for a pension. In Mr Byrne's case, it was by just three days.